11/10/2022

The Department for Child Protection (DCP), Life Without Barriers and Flinders University presented at the 2022 International and National Foster Care Conference in Darwin recently.

The Department for Child Protection (DCP), Life Without Barriers and Flinders University presented at the 2022 International and National Foster Care Conference in Darwin recently.

The presentation highlighted the success of the MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Program in helping increase support for carers and keep siblings connected in South Australia.

The conference provided an opportunity to hear from key stakeholders including foster families, children in care, social workers and academics.

DCP Executive Director, Out of Home Care, Sue Barr said: “the strong partnership approach between the DCP, Life Without Barriers and Flinders University has been instrumental in building a shared understanding of how the MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ model works best for carers and children and young people within a South Australian context.

“Working closely together and learning from research evidence is providing us with the opportunity to see the early signs of success and to learn from other jurisdictions who have started the journey before South Australia.

“South Australia was very well represented by many foster and kinship carers and their support agencies.

“It was such a positive experience to be part of a 600-plus delegation to consider and share different ways of supporting carers, so that the children and young people they care for thrive and reach their potential.”

Life Without Barriers SA Director Simone Mather said: “the connections between carers, friendships amongst children and the overall sense of being part of a wider community is everything we could hope for in setting up this program.”

Flinders University Senior Lecturer in Social Work Dr Helen McLaren has been researching the MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ roll-out in South Australia.

“It was a great experience to be at the conference, especially as a partnership sharing our experiences and understandings of how the MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ model is supporting carers and children and young people in South Australia,” Dr McLaren said.